Chapter Eight

I walked to the front school gate in a daze. I was trembling. That was my first intimate contact with a guy. I mean, now that I know better. It is true that I used to kiss Angelo all the time; however, it never felt like this.

Angelo is right. We can't be the same. I was an idiot.

"CJ!"

I raised my head. Sofia approached me.

"Hey, what's up with you?" Sofia asked. "You suddenly left."

"Oh, sorry... I just had to do something."

"You know you can tell me anything."

I heaved a sigh. I looked around to see if there were other people around.

"Well... Angelo..."

"Yes? What did he do?" Sofia's eyebrows curled against each other. "You're blushing. Wait, did he confess to you or something?"

I reddened even more. "What? Of course not! That's... Impossible."

"Hm? So what is it?"

"He... Kissed me."

Sofia's eyes widened. "What? On the lips?"

I held up a finger. "Ssh!"

She laughed. "Answer me!"

I pointed to my cheek shyly. Sofia scratched her temple.

"That's it?" She rolled her eyes. "It's just on the cheek, CJ. What's the big deal?"

I swallowed.

"W-Well... I don't know why he did that... We used to be friends but..." I answered. "And we're too young for something like that."

"Huh? He's 17," Sofia retorted. "And why am I hearing the 'friend' thing from you again? Are you sure you're not just using that card to avoid something bigger?"

I gaped. "I don't know what you're saying..."

Sofia laughed. "Maybe you like him. You just don't want to admit it to yourself."

I became flustered. "T-That's not true!"

We heard footsteps from behind. Angelo and Seth were walking toward us. Angelo shot me a casual look, while Seth waved his hand.

"I have to go, Sofia!" I said.

"CJ, wait!"

But I was already running.

I can't get what just happened out of my mind.

"So, there will be a feast day in three weeks. We expect everyone to participate with the booths. We'll have a mini fair," Ma'am Arayon announced the next day.

James, our class president, took over. Everyone became excited. Some of our classmates suggested booths and activities like fortune telling, magic shows, cosplays, and other odd stuff that didn't gather votes. In the end, Sofia's suggestion won. It was a blind dating booth.

Participants are supposed to wear blind folds. I didn't get the idea entirely, though most of the students from my class seemed excited.

I glimpsed at Seth who was talking to Jessa.

I wonder if we can participate in the booth together.

I shook my head.

Stop it, CJ. Do you want Jessa and Myka to attack you again? It's never going to happen.

We don't suit each other. He's the kind of guy you'll notice when he walks into the room. Meanwhile, I'm the kind of girl nobody's going to miss.

I stared down my palms.

Yep. That's it. No more.

ANGELO'S POV:

My injury got better after a week and a half. I had difficulty moving around which sucked. But now, I'm feeling better. I can easily play basketball again.

Seth and I were in the locker room, preparing for another practice game.

"You look serious," I uttered, slamming my locker door.

Seth was typing on his phone. "I'm making a draft of my break-up message."

"What? You're breaking up with Jessa?"

He grinned at me. "Yeah. I'm getting bored. And she's too mean."

I nodded. "Yes. Exactly. I would love to really stay away from Myka, but my Dad won't get off my back."

Seth cringed. "I feel so sorry for you. Myka and Jessa are too much. We should have seen this coming, Angelo."

I shrugged my shoulders. "It was fun while it lasted, right?"

Seth smirked. We exchanged high fives.

"But still, they're just... Really cruel. I didn't like how they treated CJ."

I gulped at the mention of CJ's name. She's been avoiding me ever since I kissed her. I wonder if it was too much.

I wanted her to give me space... But I am, admittedly, starting to miss her.

"CJ's nice. I think she's cool," Seth said.

"Mmm."

"Maybe I should date her."

My jaw clenched. Seth, on the other hand, chuckled.

"Chill, Gelo. Calm down. I was kidding," he said.

"Don't kid with me Seth, especially when it comes to CJ."

Seth straightened his back and cocked his head to the side.

"You told me that she's your first love. But do you, by any chance, still like her?"

I couldn't answer.

"We talked about this, Angelo. We said no commitment. Not until we've had all the fun we could get."

It's true. Seth and I talked about this.

"Yeah."

"Alright."

Another high five. But I lied.

I'm pretty sure that I like CJ.

I still do.

Weeks passed. Just like what I thought, CJ never bothered me again.

I am really missing her. She's just one seat away from me, but I could never muster the courage to strike a conversation.

She is obviously trying to avoid me, too. Whenever our gazes meet, she just looks away instantly.

I'm terribly confused. I know that I want her to be next to me. But I am unsure if I can take complete responsibility. I'm unsure if I can risk everything that I have now.

The girls. My popularity. My friendship with Seth.

I don't know if I can just turn my back on what I've become and return to how I was.

And then the exam week finally came.

I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I don't feel like studying. The subjects for the first day are easy, anyway.

I closed my eyes.

Agh.

I want to see CJ. This is driving me crazy.

Our memories together flashbacked in my mind. I sighed, defeated. I opened my eyes again.

I miss her.

CJ'S POV:

Tomorrow's the examination day. I was prepared because I had my fair share of advanced reading.

I was listening to music when my phone beeped.

One message received from Angelo.

I was startled. Why would he contact me?

I have been trying to get out of his life ever since he kissed me. It sank into me that it was his way to make me leave. And I obliged even though it was hard.

I took a deep breath and read the text message.

He asked me to go to his house and help him review. He said he needed my help.

I sat upright, a fluttery feeling in my stomach settling in.

Angelo is reaching out to me. Why?

I tried to calm myself down. Stop, CJ. I can't get ahead of myself again. Angelo is smarter than me. He doesn't need my help.

I flipped my phone so I wouldn't see the screen.

My knees began to shake. I bit my lip.

My phone beeped again. I couldn't resist the urge to read what he said. He gave me his address. I sighed.

I can't... I can't resist him.

I changed into my outside clothes and climbed down the stairs. I went to Tita Maya at Ate Jenn who were having their nails painted.

"Oh, CJ, why are you dressed up?" Ate Jenn asked.

"Where are you going?" Tita asked.

"Ah... I'm just going to see a friend."

"A friend? Not a boyfriend?" Tita Maya teased me.

I blushed. "I don't have a boyfriend..."

She smiled at me. "Alright. Come home early. Ask Kuya Joseph to take you."

I nodded, then I walked out of the house.

We stopped in front of Angelo's house. It was enormous. It was even bigger than Tita Maya's. Angelo was waiting outside. He waved at me. My heart jumped.

"What time should I pick you up?" Kuya Joseph asked as I got out of the car.

"No need, Kuya. I'll take her home," Angelo interjected.

Angelo opened the gate, and we went inside his house. I quietly followed him. The interior design was impressive. They also had a lot of expensive figurines. I tried my best not to bump into anything.

We entered a big room. It had a high ceiling and hundred of books were inside. Angelo's family was incredibly rich.

I glanced at the photos displayed on the walls. I saw his old photos; most of them were taken after he left the province. There was one in his elementary school graduation, a birthday party, a day at the park... It felt as though I saw him grow old.

I smiled to myself.

"Sit down, CJ."

I nodded and sat on the far end of the sofa.

"Your photos are so cute. And your house is beautiful. I thought you had a difficult time after you moved... You said in your previous letters that you were unhappy."

He shrugged. "I was... Still adjusting. Never mind what I said."

"Mm... 'Kay," I said. "Is there anyone else in the house?"

He shook his head. "Yup. It's better, right?"

"Huh?"

"I'll get you something to drink."

He left. When he returned, he was carrying two glasses of juice. He placed them on the center table, then he sat close to me.

My knees tensed up.

Relax, CJ.

"I'm glad that you asked me to come here... Angelo. Does this mean that you want us to make up?"

He suddenly chuckled. I frowned. Why would he laugh?

"Angelo?"

"You still haven't changed CJ." He leered at me. "You're still too easy to trick."

"What?"

He put his feet up on the center table, then he shot me a teasing look.

"I was just bored."

I scoffed. "You were just bored? We have exams tomorrow. You mean... You don't really need my help?"

He smirked. "CJ, come on. You know that I'm smart."

I stood up from the sofa, irritation seizing me.

"You're so annoying. You always do this to me," I snapped. "If you were just bored, you could have just called Myka. Or the girl from the garden. Call whoever."

"You're the one I wanted to see, alright? That's why I texted you."

I placed my hands on my hips. "And I don't get you at all! I don't know what you want. You wanted me to avoid you, so I did. So what's this?"

I turned my back and went to the door.

This is frustrating. Why am I so stupid?

I pulled the door open, but he suddenly slammed it from behind me. I held my breath.

He was close to me. I could hear him breathing.

"A-Angelo..." I stammered.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to my ear. "Please don't leave."

I clenched my fists.

"Why?"

"I missed you."